Viola Parks

VIOLA L. PARKS Viola Louise Parks, 88, of Wichita, Kansas, died peacefully, October 29, 2005 after suffering a stroke in 2003. Viola, daughter of Louis and Louise Bohnenberger, was born in Utica, New York, September 19, 1917. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Alice Davies and Grace Hulr; her brother, Theodore Bohnenberger; and her grandson, Theron Parks. Viola and Wade Cook were married in 1934 in Syracuse, New York. They had two children, Thomas Carl and Phillip George. Wade a railroad worker, died in a train accident in 1949. In October 1951, Viola married Lynn L. Parks in North Bay, New York. Lynn adopted Tom and Phil in 1952, and then the couple had two more children, Bruce Lee in 1955 and Linda Sue in 1957. In 1963, Lynn and Viola moved to Neodesha, Kansas, where Lynn worked for MEC until he retired in 1979. He died in 1980 after a long battle with cancer. Viola moved to Wichita in 1988. She was active in the United Methodist Church of Neodesha and later in the East Heights United Methodist Church of Wichita. In Neodesha, she taught Sunday School, chaired and worked on numerous church circles and worked in the church kitchen, making meals ofr funerals, church clubs and other events. Most of all, Viola was devoted to her children, grandchildren, other family members and friends. After moving to Wichita, she lived in the Hillcrest Apartments, Georgetown Village and Sedgwick Plaza. Viola is survived by three sons, Tom of Fredonia, Kansas, Phil and daughter-in-law, Carolyn of Orlando, Florida, and Bruce and daughter-in-law, Lisa of Neodesha, Kansas; daughter, Linda and son-in-law, Randy Brown of Wichita, Kansas; eleven grandchildren, Pam Labatt, Jeff Parks, Jill Dunn, Tom Jacobs, Michelle Gustin, Judy Bertuceni, David Bertuceni, Dawn Green, Danielle Moorefield, Russell Parks and Heather Parks; fifteen great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation hours for Viola will be on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Loran Fawcett Chapel, Neodesha, Kansas. Funeral services for Viola L. Parks will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 02, 2005 at the United Methodist Church, Neodesha, Kansas with Reverend Jon Jones of the East Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kansas officiating. Burial will follow at the Neodesha City Cemetery. Memorials have been established at the United Methodist Church of Neodesha, 802 Indiana, Neodesha, Kansas 66757 and the East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E. Douglas, Wichita, Kansas 67218. Memorials may be left with the funeral home. To leave a special message for the family, visit www.penwellgabel.com.